Cone-winding machine.



G. W. FOSTER.

CONE WINDING MACHINE- APPLICATION nuzn FEB. 28. 1918.

v 1 24,889. Patented 13 60. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ATTORNEYS G. W. FOSTER.

CONE WINDING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED FEB-28. 1918.

1,324,889., Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. FOSTER, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 UNIVERSAL WINDING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

oonmwmnmc MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Original application filed July 3, 1917, Serial No. 178,393. Divided and this application filed 'February 28,

1918. Serial No. 219,609.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. FOSTER, a citizen of the United, States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, 6 State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cone- Winding Machines,-of which the following is a specification.-

My invention relates to winding machines 10 and particularly to cone winders of. the drumor friction-driven type. Such a type of machine is shown in my pending application, Serial No. 178,393, filed July 3, 1917,

from which this application is divided, and

the present improvements are directed particularly to the means for supporting the cone-tube or holder for the package to adapt it to recede from the driving-drum or roll as the winding increases in diameter. One

object of the invention described in my previous application is to build the'cone with a gradually increasing taper on its surface from its interior to 1ts exterior, and for this ose it is necessary that the cone-tube or ii dl er be held at its ends to allow its axis to be displaced in angular relation to the 1 surface of the driving-roll or drum. That is to say, as the cone increases in diameter the taper of its surface becomes steeper in pitch, and therefore the cone-holder must rock axially to maintain the surface of the Figure 1 is a side elevationof the essential elements of the winding-mechanism for one unit of a winding machine; Fig. 2, a sectional view through the, axis of the cone-tube or holder showing the man- ,ner in which it isheld b its end-su ports; Fig. 3, a plan view of t e cone-hol er sup porting-devices Fig. 4, a part sectional view: showing the means for pivotally supporting the coneholder arms; and

Figs. 5 and 6, detail views of the same.

Referring first to Fig. 1, D designates the friction drive-roll or drum which is supported'and rotated by a horizontal shaft R ournaled in suitable hearings on the machine-frame, not herein shown. Usually the shaft R extends the whole length of the machine and carries a series of drive-rolls D, one for each winding unit. Arranged opposite and parallel with the shaft R is a longitudinally-reciprocable traverse-bar .E which is supported to slide in suitable bearings, not herein shown, on the machine frame. The traverse-bar E carries a plurality of' thread-guides G, one for each winding'unit, which are reciprocated there by to traverse the thread longitudinally of the-cone or package in the usual manner as well known in the art. Preferably, the guides G are formed of sheet-metal with portions straddling the bar E and fastened thereto by suitable means such as the screws 76. Each guide G has an arm 77 reaching 80 inwardly toward the surface of the driving-drum .1), said arm being bent upwardly at its end and formed with a slot 9 through which the thread or yarn y leads to the P e.

At the rear of the shaft R, and extending parallel therewith, is-a tie-rod T which ex-' tends the length of the machine between its end-frames as shown more particularly in my previous application above referred to. The rod T forms the principal support for the pivoted arms which carry-the cone-holders at their outer ends, and usually the machine is constructed with winding units on both sides of the central tie-rod T in doublegang form. 'That is to'say, each machine has two' parallel shafts R arranged in spaced relation below and on opposite sides of the tie-rod T, and the arms for the cone-holders extend from the Center of the machine outwardlyin opposite directions to bring their ends into proximity with the several drivin-g-drums D, D on the shafts. Spaced at intervals along the rod 'T are a plurality of depending arms or brackets 28 which support'alower, parallel rod T, see also Figs.

-4 and .5. The brackets 28 are extended below the. rod T and secured therein are pins or studs 29 on which are pivotally mounted the swinging arms A for supporting the small ends of the cone-tubes or mandrels C on which they packages are wound, see

Figs. 3 and 4. The opposite or base end of each cone-tube C is supported by an arm B which is pivoted'on the rod T.. Through this arrangement the larger orbase end of the cone is caused to swing about an axis elevated above the axis of 'the'pivot about which the small or apex end swings in' the manner as later described. Each arm B is formed. with a hub 30 which isrotatable on the rod T and free to slide therealong against the tension of a coiled spring 31.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the arms B, B are arranged in pairs disposed in opposite relation between each pair of brackets 28.

The arm B of each pair supports the-base end of the. cone-tube C on one side of the machine while the other arm B extends in the opposite direction to support the coneholder on the other side of the machine. The arms B and B are located in position longitudinally of the rod T'by means of vcollars 32 secured to the rod T by setscrews 33. 'Each collar 32 is formed on its side with an inclined cam-face 34 against which a lug 35 on the hub 30 of the arm B rides, see detail view Fig. 6. The lug 35 is formed on the side of a flange 36 at the-end of the hub 30, and bearing against the opposite .side of the flange is a plate or washer 37 which takes the thrust of the spring 31. The washer 37 is formed with spaced arms 38,38, see Fig, 5, which-straddle the sides of the upper rod T to hold the washer from turning. As shown in Fig. 4, the spring 31 acts against the hubs 30 of both arms B and B to maintain their lugs '35 bearing against the cam-faces 34, and the purpose of the Washers 37 is to prevent the swinging Fig. 4, against the action of the spring 31.

Likewise, the upward movement of the arm B will cause its lug 35 riding on the inchne 34 of its related collar 32 to slide the arm to the left on the rod T. Through this arrangement the cone-holders G are caused to be displaced longitudinally of their respective drive-rolls in a substantially axial direction. This axial displacement of the cone is in the direction'of'its apex end and is relatively slight, being designed to overcome the tendency of the 'cone to build up with an excessive concavity at its nose. This tendency arises from the inclined relation .Of the axis of the cone tothe surface of the drive-roll and in the present type of machine this inclination becomes greater as the cone builds up with an increasing taper on its-surface. The purpose of the above described arrangement for shifting the cone along its drive-roll is more fully explained in 'my pending U. S. application for patent, Serial No. 124,373, filed Oct. 7, 1916, the present mechanism embodying certain improvements in the structure and method of operation of the device.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the apex or nose end of each cone-holder G is supported at the end of the before-mentioned arm A,

which carries a bearing arranged as follows: v

Pivoted on the stud 29 which projects from the side of the bracket 28 is a hub 40 held between the side of the bracket and a caplike bearing 41. The cap 41 is formed with a nut 42 screwed onto the reduced end 43 of the stud 29 and locked in place by a check-nut 44. The inner face of. the cap 41 is .concaved to receive: a relatively thin,

dished spring-washer 45 which bears against the side of-the hub 40, thereby tending to regulate the swinging movement of the arm A about its axis. That is to say, the spring 45 acts to frictionize the turning of thehub 40 on the stud 29 and thereby serves to resist the movement of the arm A asthe nose of the cone recedes from the drive-roll. The purpose of this arrangement is to insure a firm contact of the nose end of the cone against the drive-roll D which imparts r0- tation thereto. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the hub 40 is formed with a short arm 46 to the side of which is hinged the main arm A. The arm A is connected to the arm 46 by a pivot-pin 47 and is formed with a pocket 48 for receiving the end of a helical spring 49. The opposite end of the spring 49 bears against the side of the short arm 46 to'maintain the end of the main arm A in position to receive the apex or tip of' the cone-holder C, while also providing for the axial displacement of the cone when the arm B is slid along the rod T, as previously explained. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each stud 29 supports a pair of hubs 40 for two oppositely extending arms A, A, the latter supporting the cone-holders of two winding units on opposite sides of the machine.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, the

coneholder C here shown is of conventionalform conslstmg of a conical tube having relatively thin, walls, usually of paper or fiber, converging atone end in the rounded nose 0. cup-like member 50 mounted in a ball-bearing at the .end of the arm A. Any suitable form of hearing may be employed for this purpose and as here shown the cup 5(l carries a ball-race 51 on its peyiphery adapted to re- The nose 0 is adapted to fit into a sleeve 61, the outer end of Which is ofconvex formation to adapt it to fit the concavity of the head 59. The inner end of the sleeve 61 is slightly enlarged in a flange 62 having its side formed convexly to adapt it to fit into a corresponding concavity 63 in the arm B. On the periphery of the sleeve 61v is a ball-ring or race 64 arranged opposite the race 57 with the balls 66 revolving therebetween. A cap 67 is screwed onto the sleeve 61 to hold the race 64 in place against a shoulder 68, saidcap being formed with a flange 69 for retaining the bearing-ring 5 5 in position with the balls 66 in proper relation to the races 57 and 6 1. It will be noted that the bore 60 of the sleeve 61 is of greater diameter than that of the stud 58 to provide 'suflicient clear- I ance for the sleeve to rock slightly on its .0 bearing That is to say, the sleeve 61 which carries the bearing-ring 55 is free to move in the manner of a ball-and-socket joint, the purpose of the arrangement being to allow the cone C to change its angle of inclination to the driving-drum D as it re- 0 cedes therefrom with the growth in the Winding.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, the arm B is slotted along its top at 70 and pivoted in the slot on a cross-pin 71 is a lever 72.

The outer end' of the lever 72 is provided with afinger-piece 73, while its inner end is formed with a hook 74:, the extremity of which normally rests on the top of the 45. tie rod T. As the arm B swings upwardly during the building of the cone the end of the hook 74 rides around the periphery of the rod T Without interfering with the movement of the arm. When, however, it is required to raise the cone away from contact with the drive-roll D, in piecing'up the yarn or in applying the cone-tube C- to its holder and in dofiing the completed package, the arm B is lifted far enough to allow the end of the lever 72 to hook around the rod T. Through this means the arm B may be suspended in raised position to facilitate the application of the cone-tube C to the supporting arms A and B' and the removal of the completed package; and by pressingd'own on the outer end of the lever 72 its hook 74 can be released to allow the arm to be lowered into operative position as shown in Fig. 1. A weight W, shown 66' in Fig. 1, is usually attached to the side of the arm B to maintain the cone or package firmly against the surface of the drive-roll D during the winding, this elementbeing omitted from Fig. 3 so as not to confuse the showingof the other parts.

The method of operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: The paper conetube 0 is applied to its supporting arms A and B by inserting its rounded nose 0 into the bearingcup 50 and fitting its base 'end 75 overthe conical bearing-ring'55, see Fig. 21

'The hinged arrangement of the arm A adapts it to yield to provide for slipping the cone-tube onto the supporting-ring '55. and'when released the spring 59 causes it to press against the nose end of the tube to hold its base end snugly in place on the ring. During the operation .of applying the cone to its supports the arm B may be suspended in raised position, if desired, by hooking the end of the lever 72, shown in Fig. 4, around the tie-rod T. After the cone-tube is in place the;lever 72 is released to allow the arm B to drop, and the tube. will then come down into operative 90 position against the surface of the driveroll D. g 7 The yarns; y to be wound into the cones are supplied from suitable bobbins, usually arranged below but not herein shown, and each yarn is generally led throughsuitable tension and stopping-devices, not herein illustrated, as they form no part of the I present invention. Thence the yarn y leads through the slot. 9 in the thread-guide G p and is secured to its cone-tube C by -winding the end therearound. The threadingup of the yarn may be effected while the arm -B is held suspended by the hook-lever 72,. if desired, this being the preferred practice as more convenient for at tachi ng the end of the yarn to the cone-tube. The machine is now ready for Winding,

and each unit is started separately through the operationof suitable manually-controlled devices, not herein shown. The'operation of the starting-devices causes the rotation of the shaft R and also the longitudinal reciprocation of the traverse-bar E which is driven from a cam or other mecha- 11 nism, not herein illustrated. The drive-roll D is rotated from the shaft R, and through its frictional contact with the surface of the cone-tube C the latter will be turned to wind on the yarn while it is being traversed longitudinally of the tube by the guide G. As

the yarn builds up on the cone-tube C the increase in diameter of the mass causes the axis of the. cone to recede from the driveroll D while its surface remains constantly 1 5 in contact therewith. As the cone rises its supporting arms A and B swing upwardly on their pivots 29 and T, and meanwhile the axis of the cone becomes more and more inclined to the face of the drive-roll D due Y stud 58 in its bore 60, see Fig.2. The increase in inclination of the cone with respect toits drive-roll tends to cause its base to be formed convexly and its opposite end concaved. To prevent this tendency from causingabnormal'concavity at the nose'end of the cone, whereby its structure will be weakened, the whole cone is shifted bodily to the right, orin the direction of its apex, by means of'the cam 34. on the collar 32," see Figs. 4 and 6, acting against the lug 35 on the flange 36 of the arm B as previously explained. Through this arrangement the shaping of the cone is determined and controlled within the prescribed limits to provide the preferred formation of its ends.

The winding of the individual cones is usually arrested automatically by the action of suitable stopping-mechanism, a preferred form of the same being illustrated in my pending application previously referred to. This stopping action is accomplished by lifting the cone bodily away from the driveroll so that the driving action will cease, and for convenience in repairing or piecing up a broken end the cone may be raised still further by hooking the lever 72 around the tierod T as previously explained. The

rotation of the cop may be arrested manually in the same manner by shifting the stopping-devices or by lifting the arm B upwardly and hooking the lever 72 around the tie-rod T. After the cone has reached its predetermined diameter the winding may be arrested by suitable sizing-devices which are engaged by the surface of the cone to cause actuation ofthe stopping mechanism.- The completed cone or pac age is removed from its supports by simply pressing it bodily in the direction of its apex. This action causes the arm A to be swung on its pivot 47 against the action of the spring 49 and allows the base end of the cone-tube C to he slipped off from its bearing-ring 55 and its rounded apex end removed from the cup-member 5Q. Through this arrangement the package may be very conveniently and expeditiously doffed and a new cone-tube applied for preparing the machine to continue its operation.

It will be noted that the whole mechanism for supporting the cone-tubes is extremely simple in construction, comprising a minimum number of parts and with its'elements arranged to provide for the 'most convenient taper to maintain the proper'driving contact between the cone and its drive-roll. The

ball-bearings which support the ends of the cone-tube provide for a smoother and easier running 0 the package, thereby decreasing the slippage between the surface of the cone andv the drive-roll whereby to improve the character of the winding and to also prevent undue friction or abrasion of the yarn being wound.

Various modifications might be made in the form and construction of the parts of my improved apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of they invention; therefore, without limiting myself to the exact embodiment shown and described, what I claim is 1. In a cone-winding machine, the combination with a rotating drive-roll and a traversing thread-guide, of means to support the cone to be driven from the drive- I'Oll comprising two opposite independentlymovable pivoted arms, a cup-member rotatably mounted on the end of one of the arms to adapt it to receive the apex-end of the cone-tube on which the cone is wound, and a tapered ring rotatably mounted on the end of the other arm and adapted to enter the base end of the cone-tube to hold the apex of the latter in the cup-member.

2. In a cone-winding machine, the combination with a rotating drive-roll and a traversing thread-guide, of means to support the cone to be driven from the driveroll comprising two opposite independentlytatably support the latter with its apex-end held in the cup-member. v

3. In a cone-winding machine, the combination with a rotating drive-roll and reciprocable thread-guide, of means for supporting the cone-tube to adapt it to be driven from the drive-roll "comprising two opposite independently-movable arms pivoted to swing away from the drive-roll, a tapered ring mounted on ball-bearings at the end of one of the arms to adapt it to rock slightly in relation thereto, and a cup-member mounted in ball-bearings at the end of the opposite arm to adapt it to receive the apexend of, the cone-tube while the base end of the latter is held on the ring.

4. In a cone-winding machine, the combination with a rotating drive-roll and a traversing thread-guide, of a pair of independently-movable hinged arms for supporting the cone to adapt it to be driven from the drive-roll while allowing its axis to recede therefrom, a member mounted at the end of one of thearms with a ball-andsocket joint to adapt it to rock axially thereon, a bearing carried by said member, a ring rotatable on said bearing and adapted to support the base-end of the cone-tube, and a cup-member rotatably mounted at the end of the other arm to adapt it to receive the apex-end of the cone-tube.

5. In a cone-winding machine, the combinnti 1; with the rotating drive-roll' and traversing thread-guide, of a pair of independently-movable hinged arms for supportin the cone to adapt it to be driven from the rive-roll, a stud at the end of one of the arms formed with a head having an inner concaved seat, a sleeve-member having a bore fitted loosely to the stud and convex ends, one of which engages the concaved head of thestud and'the other a concaved seat on the arm, a bearing supported by said sleeve, a ring journaled on said bearing to adapt it to rotatably support the base-end of the cone-tube, and a cup-member journaled at the end of the other arm to adapt it to receive the apex-end of the conetube.

6. In a cone-holder support for winding machines, the combination with a hinged arm, of a stud projecting from the end of the arm, a member mounted on the stud with a universal joint to adapt it to rock in different directions in relation to the arm, .a bearing carried by said member, and a ring journaled on said bearing to adapt it to rotatably support the base-end of the cone-holder.

7. In a cone-holder support for winding machines, the combination with a hinged arm, of a member mounted on said arm by means ofa universal-joint toadapt it to rock in different directions in relation thereto, a ball-race carried by said member, a ring-member for supporting the end of the cone-holder, a ball-race carried by said ringmember, and a series of balls rotatable between the races.

8. In a cone-holder supportior winding machines, the combination with a hinged arm, or" a member connected to said arm with bali-and-socket joint to adapt it to reel: axially thereoma bali-race carried by said member, a bearin -member for rotatabiy supporting the cone-holder, a ballrace carried by the bearing-member, and a series of bails rotatable between the ballraces, 4

In a cone-holder support for winding machines, the combination with a hinged arm, of a stud projecting from the end of from the drive-roll durin the winding, means to shirt said arm laterally to displace the cone axialiy'during the winding,.a second arm for supporting the a ring-member for supporting the end of the cone-holder, a ball-race on said ringmember, and a eries of balls rotatable be tween the ball-races;

10. In a cone-holder support forwinding machines, the combination with a hinged arm, of astud projecting from the side of the arm, a sleeve mounted on the stud to adapt it to rock axially thereof, a ball-race on the periphery of the sleeve, a bearingmember for the cone-holder, a ball-race carried by the bearing-member, balls rotatable between the ball-races, and a cap adjustable on the sleeveto retain the bearing-member in place with the ball-races in cooperative relation with the balls.

11. In a cone-holder support for Winding machines, the combination with the driveroll for rotating the cone, of a horizontal rod arranged parallel with the axis of the drive-roll, a pair of arms hingedly supported from said rod, means for rotatably supporting the cone-holder at the ends of said arms, and a hooked lever pivoted on one of the arms to adapt its extremity to ride on the periphery of the rod during the normal movement of the cone as its axis recedes from the drive-roll with the growth in the winding, said lever also adapted to hook around the rod to suspend-the cone above the drive-roll when it is raised to a positiom beyond its normal range of movement.

12. In a cone-winding machine, the comination with the drive-roll for rotating the:

cone, of an arm pivoted to support one end of the cone to adapt the axisof the latter to recede from the drive-roll, means to'displace said arm durin the receding movement of the cone to shi t the latter axially during the winding, a second pivoted arm for supporting. the opposite end of the cone, and an extension hingedly mounted on said second arm to adapt it to swing laterally to provide for the axial displacement of the cone.

13. In a cone-winding machine, the combination with the drive-roll for rotating the cone, of a. pivoted arm for supporting one end of the cone to adapt its axis to recede the growth in opposite end of the cone, a pivoted bearing for the second arm to adapt it to swing to accommodate the receding movement of the cone, and an extension hinged to the sec" ond arm to adapt it to swing laterally during the axial displacement of the cone.

14. In a cone-winding machine, the combination with-the drive-roll for rotating the cone, of a pivoted arm for supporting one Mid end of the cone to adapt its axis to recede from the drive-roll with the growth in the winding, means for shifting said arm laterally to displace the cone axially during the winding, a second pivoted arm for supporting the opposite end of the cone, an extenroll comprising an arm pivoted to rock one an axis at one side of the drive-roll, a tapered ring mounted to rotate on bearings at the end of the arm while allowing it to rock slightly on its axis, a second arm mounted in opposed relation to the first arm and pivoted on an axis below the pivot of the first arm, an extension pivoted on the second arm to adapt its end to'rock toward and away from the first arm, a cup-member rotatable in a bearing at the end of the exten-' sion and formed with a cavity for receiving the rounded apex-endof the cone-tube when its base end is fitted to the ring at the end of ing-ring.

16. In a winding machine, the combination with the rotating drive-roll and traversing thread-guide, of means for supporting the cone in contactwith the drive-roll comprising a horizontal rod, arms pivotally supported from said rod toadapt theirfends to swing away from the drive-roll, a bearingring rotatably mounted on the endof one of the arms to adapt it to be inserted in the base end of the .cone-tube, a cup-member rotatably'mounted at the end of the opposite arm to adapt it to-receive the nose end of the c0p-tu be,and a hooked lever pivoted on 'one of the arms to adapt it to be hooked over the horizontal rod to hold the cone-supporting arms in raised positionsabove the drive-' roll.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

GEORGE W. FOSTER. 

